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Stormglass Barometer
Admiral Fitz Roy was a founding member of the British Meteorlogical Service, and one of the few scientific people of the 1800s to study the various storm glasses that were in widespread use for weather forecasting. These storm glasses were composed of a super-saturated mixture of various chemical compounds, hermetically sealed within a heavy glass tube; crystals would alternately form and grow into strange and fascinating organic and crystalline shapes, or melt and dissappear back into solution. Observers reported that the changing character of the crystals conformed to outside weather events, in a way that could not be explained by normal temperature or pressure effects. Fitz Roy studied these various storm glasses, eventually developing one specific mixture which he found to be most suitable for weather forecasting. To quote from his Weather Book of 1863:
Since 1825 we have generally had some of these vials...when it was fairly demonstrated that if fixed, undisturbed, in free air, not exposed to radiation, fire, or sun, but in the ordinary light of a well-ventillated room, or preferably in the outer air, the chemical mixture in a so-called storm glass varies in character with the direction of the wind -- not its force... though it may so vary from another cause, electrical tension. As the atmospheric current veers toward, comes from, or is only approaching from the polar direction, this chemical mixture -- if closely, even microscopically watched -- is found to grow like fir, or fern leaves -- or like hoar frost -- or even large but delicate crystallisations..."
CLICK HERE TO SEE AN EXCELLENT PHOTO OF THE CRYSTALS ON A TYPICAL SUMMERTIME "ACTIVE" WEATHER DAY.
They often resemble tree-branches, feathers, cotton fluff, and other living-organic and inorganic forms. These are NOT "frost" crystals, as the temperature was quite warm when the photo was taken. Such organic forms in "dead" inorganic solutions invite the speculation that the Fitzroy tube actually responds to some subtle life-energy, or orgone energy phenomenon at work in atmospheric weather-processes. The tube most definitely does not respond in a purely mechanical way to temperature changes.
$249. Fitzroy Stormglass Barometer, Deluxe (at above left)
within 18" tall Glass-Covered Display Case.
$99. Fitzroy Stormglass Barometer Wall Plaque (at right)
with same crystal Fitzroy tube and thermometer,
mounted on 12" tall wood plaque (not behind glass).
Click on the Oak Fitzroy Tube photos for an image of the Mahogany version.
Imported from Germany!
Fitz Roy described a variety of different crystal shapes and patterns that developed within the storm glass according to different wind directions and weather conditions. His basic observation was, the more crystals within the tube were a harbinger of stormy weather. However, with the rise of the doctrine of "empty space", and the suppression of more recent research evidence on the cosmic ether and life energy theories, the idea of an unusual energetic basis to weather was no longer addressed in textbooks. Still, many industrial workers, particularly chemists working with sensitive film emulsions, kept making repeated observations of unusual chemical reactions associated with subtle weather changes and sunspot activity, even under controlled laboratory conditions (see: G. Piccardi: Chemical Basis of Medical Climatology, in our Life-Energy book section). The older ideas are now being re-examined by many scientists. Natural Energy Works has made arrangements with a European instrument maker, and can now offer these fascinating, hand-crafted instruments, each of which is mounted on an attractive wooden display with thermometer and dust cover.
* Study the changing forms of the crystals, which are influenced by subtle energetic radiations from Sun, Earth, and Atmosphere!
* Learn to forecast atmospheric conditions the "Old Fashioned" way.
* Convince yourself, by direct observations, that there is an unusual energetic basis to weather and physical chemistry.
Some Additional Informative Web-Links on the Fitzroy Stormglass
"Will the True Originator of the Storm Glass Please Own Up", by McConnell & Collins (article is a PDF download from this link).
Some fascinating New Russian Research on the Fitzroy Tube in English, with Russian available also.
NOTE: The super-saturated solution of crystals inside the Fitzroy Stormglass show variations in activity according to outside weather, location of the jet-stream, and also generally to solar activity. In general, the more crystals and growth inside the tube, the more overcast, stormy and rainy will the weather become. At other times, the crystals may appear to go "dead" and not do much of anything. In those cases, it helps to subject the crystal tube to a vigorous shaking, similar to "homeopathic succusion". This is accomplished by firmly grasping the top and bottom of the wood display with both hands, and giving the entire device a strong shaking up and down along the length of the tube, for about 20 seconds. This will temporarily destroy whatever remnant crystal patterns are in the tube, but a day or two afterward, the crystals should come back "alive". If you break your stormglass, wipe up the liquid carefully and dilute the washcloth with water. It is composed of primarily alcohol and camphor which is toxic only if ingested. Keep out of the reach of children.
Simple Weather Instrument!
In 1793, the noted philosopher and scientist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe crafted a special "weatherglass", which was discovered only after his death many years later in his Wiemar laboratory: a pear-shaped blown-glass vessel, with a raised spout like an elephant's trunk, and which dripped water at the time of approaching rains. Called the Goethe Weatherglass Barometer, this fascinating device was widely used for many years to reliably observe changes in atmosphere pressure. It was eventually replaced by mercury aneroid barometer, and sunk into oblivion. The Goethe Weatherglass is now faithfully reproduced by German craftsmen, and available for sale.
The Goethe Weatherglass is firstly prepared by immersing the glass vessle under water, on its back, allowing it to fill about three-quarters with ordinary water. When returned upright, an air pocket forms in the top of the vessel, and the spout fills about half way with water. As air pressure lowers with the approach of a storm system, the air pocket inside the Goethe Weatherglass expands, pushing water up the transparent glass "elephant trunk", and water then drips out and down the instrument, where it collects on a small catchment mounted on the same provided wood plank wall-display on which the Goethe Weatherglass is also mounted. As air pressure increases with clear and cloud-free weather, the normal atmosphere pushes the water down and compresses the air pocket, and no water is observed to drip out.
The glass vessel of the Goethe Barometer is made of heavy hand-blown glass, nothing thin or cheap. The wall display is made of a handsome finished oak plank with brass corner pieces and a brass identification plate stating "Goethe Barometer 1783". Made with the top-most craftsmanship of highest quality materials, fully functional, and with no "moving parts" to break -- though you must obviously handle the glass vessel itself with care. This barometer will grace the library or den, or living room, of either the most modest experimenter, or the President of the Yacht Club!
Imported from Germany!
$99. Goethe Weatherglass Barometer
Glass vessel (8" tall) with solid oak plank wall-display mounting board (18" tall x 6.75" wide).
Note: Depending upon your climate and water supply, you can add a small amount of clear vinegar to the water to prevent the growth of algae inside the vessel. You can also add a small amount of ordinary food coloring to give the water a color, to suit your pleasure. You should also not hang the Goethe Weatherglass Barometer over any expensive furniture, objects or carpeting, as it will occasionally drip out more water than usual, possibly spilling out of the small catchment.
A Rustic Weather Predictor from the Backwoods of Maine
Originally developed by the Native Americans of the Northeast, this special tree branch (from the balsam fir tree) accurately predicts weather changes. Hung on an outside wall or door casing exposed to the weather, the stick will spontaneously bend down when foul weather is approaching, and up for fair weather! This bending effect continues in some tree species even when the limb is "dead" and dry. Some say this is an affect of humidity, but in the living plant, relative humidity is always at saturation, or 100%. Others say it is an affect of the Earth's electrostatic or orgone (life) energy field, which is stronger on clear days and weaker during periods of clouds and rain.
We know you will be fascinated by the unusual behavior of the Maine Woodsman's Weatherstick.
$ 6.95 for each Weatherstick
$18.95 for 3 Weathersticks
For something more "high-tech" and electronic, see our Strike Alert! Personal Lightning Detector.
Warranty: All our meters and devices are warranted by the manufacturer against defects of materials and workmanship, excluding abuse or misuse or breakage of parts by the purchaser, for a period of one year from the date of purchase. We will either repair or replace defective meters or devices with one of equal quality. See the link on the left side for our full Warranty and Returns Policy.
